20 September 2011
Pacific Bliss stayed an extra couple of days much to the kids' delight and they really did get to play in concentrated bursts in between school and food and sleep! We went snorkelling with them over a sunken aeroplane and boat which was pretty cool. They have been the first boat we have met who have a girl Mia's age and a boy Lochy's age. A perfect match.
The Jackson Four enjoyed a lovely meal at Perrine and Dan's apartment and a swim in their pool and Lochy was completely made up by being given a grey shark tooth that Perrine had collected on one of her dives.
This morning we went to the diesel dock to fill up with the intention of staying a couple of nights in the marina so we can completely recharge the batteries using shore power. It would be cheaper than hiring a generator, however, no room in the inn today. We've reserved for tomorrow.
We've been told that two of our 6 parcels we have arranged to be sent here have arrived, so Mark can get on with the duogen repairs tomorrow!
A little update on our next plans? Well, we need to be in Tonga for the end of October to leave for NZ. With so many places to visit and so little time left, we (well I - still need to discuss this with Mark!) have decided we'll go to Bora Bora (MAY need to miss it out and see Moorea instead) which takes less than 48 hours. Then 1035 miles to Nuie (about 9 days) and then 250 miles to Tonga. Then next season, we can decide how far we will come back again towards French Polynesia before spending a more leisurely season in the Pacific!

Well, Dan has returned Mark safely to Tahiti (or vice versa!) and they arrived before sunset last night. Dan used to work on super yachts here and so knows all the crews, so when the opportunity to watch the rugby on one of the big boats came up, they both jumped at the chance. In the meantime I was recovering from losing - and gaining again - a day, when Pacific Bliss informed me (yesterday) it wasn't Friday but Thursday. Not that it matters what day it is, but I was baffled for half an hour until PB then admitted it was they who were mistaken and my sense of equilibrium was restored. It's not for another few hundred miles before we lose a day to the international date line!
We've placed orders for fuel filters, smart chargers, and are still waiting for the propeller that still hasn't arrived in Nuka Hiva, let alone been returned to Tahiti, so we're going to be here for at least another week.
Mia and Lochy have had another sleepover and also pleased to see Luna again, so although we're stuck here for a little while, it's nice to be stuck with other boat families! Dan has lent us his car whilst we are here, so we're looking forward to a tour of the island and also maybe the opportunity to go whale watching with Perrine his girlfriend and have a dip in their pool. So it was definitely worth losing Mark for 2 and a half days, not to mention the fact that it was just nice to have some time apart and to enjoy seeing each other again. That's OK isn't it?

Well, Mark left at 10am to catch a noon flight and I've heard from him that he has safely arrived in Rangiroa, all ready to set sail first thing tomorrow morning. As he left, he mentioned that if I could just do the 200 hour oil change for both engines whilst he was gone and order some filters and a sterling smart charger that would be great - oh, and the engines need more diesel and don't forget to turn on the engines twice a day to charge the batteries. Once Mark had gone and school was finished, Pacific Bliss came over to collect the kids and I blitzed the boat - I even saw the table again! Cosmo has totally restored my faith in Lochy's ability to make friends as they are getting on so well and the girls, well girls are girls aren't they?! I've never had the same concerns that Mia would turn around and deck her 'friend' in the same way Lochy might! And now? Pegasus is having a girly sleep over and Pacific Bliss is having a boys sleep over - the girls are watching a film and everything is calm and lovely. Oh PS, I think I might have a job lined up for NZ - fingers crossed - now where is my CV?!

Another British boat! Probably the first British Flagged boat we have come across that actually has a British family on board. Lochy has made best buddies with Cosmo, 6 and Mia has hit it off with Zinia, 9. Shame they are heading North and not South! They are being far more sensible and taking it slowly through the Pacific, heading back up to the Marquesas for the cyclone season. We, on the other hand, will soon be rushing through the last part of the Pacific to NZ, once we have our batteries sorted. It is a bit disheartening that Mark, who has previously diagnosed and treated all sorts of other boats' electrical problems can't see what's wrong with our own batteries. It's a problem. We need to sort it out. Which is why Mark is flying out to the Tuamotus tomorrow to help another boat come back to Tahiti. Daniel, who we met in Nuka Hiva has had problems getting crew for the last part of his return to Tahiti, so he is flying Mark out to help him bring his boat the last 200 miles. They should be back by Friday. In the meantime, the kids and I can get on with school and socialising with Pacific Bliss. I think it will be good for Mark to get away from Tahiti for a couple of days and enjoy sailing on another boat (lagoon 40 something) before coming back to Pegasus and her battery problem.
I think I won't be using the kayak we have borrowed whilst Mark is away - the kids and I paddled over to Goody today to say hello. Paddling back against wind and current definitely gave my biceps a good working out of Popeye proportions.

Not much to report, getting back into school in the morning, hanging out with Goody in the afternoon, Mark went back into town to get the rig fixed so that's a good job ticked off the list. The batteries are misbehaving themselves at the moment, so that's the next job. We have decided to get some more parts sent here, so will be here at least another week, then off to Bora Bora. After that, we are really trying to decide where to go, with limited time. Or rather where to miss out, when everywhere seems so lovely. I have to keep reminding myself that we will be doing another season in the South Pacific after NZ but it doesn't help having Graham and Lorraine from Catacaos in Jersey a month ahead of us. They have been great at recommending places, and we've been following in their footsteps for a while now, but there are so many places. Mark is going to help Mike and Jackie from Yolo come off their mooring today; I have given Mike strict instructions not to keep Mark until they get to Bora Bora - a 50 foot catana beautiful catamaran - I'd be tempted to stay myself, if I didn't have a beautiful wife and gorgeous children on my own boat of course!

It's been a while, so we thought we'd better crack on with school whilst we're settled here for a couple of weeks. Having seen all the photos of friends' children on FB in their new school uniforms I did feel quite glad that Pegasus uniform is the kids in their undies, though I did have to buy a new pair of flip flops for Lochy today! School is nothing too strenous - maths, diary, history, science. Lochy is still writing his animal book which is NOT school work, mum. And all the art, music, design and technology comes out of school time. So, we basically do a couple of hours a day. I don't know how we have fallen into the habit of Lochy complaining so much about school, but yesterday was a good day. I can definitely count the good days more easily than the bad as they fit on one hand. Mia seems to take after her mother with the maths, so I think we'll squeeze some extra in whilst we're here. At least when we go to NZ, school term doesn't start until January, so this term can just be spent consolidating!
It is really expensive here. About £6 for some grapes, £4 for a loaf of bread. I've even cut down on my chocolate consumption as it's about £3 for a crunchie! We've taken to baking our own treats with the stocks we have on the boat already. So, when we get to NZ we'll be down to our last bag of flour and sugar as we're not over-provisioning here!